Sacramento Bee: LDS Church wants young men to be like Jimmer

Jimmer Fredette, the Sacramento Kings first round draft pick, the 10th overall, in the NBA draft, held Thursday, holds his jersey up as Kings President of Basketball Operations Geoff Petrie, looks on during a news conference in Sacramento, Calif., Saturday, June 25, 2011. Fredette, a 6-2 guard from BYU, led the nation in scoring with a 28.9 points per game average in 2010-11.

The recently announced marriage plans of Sacramento Kings draft pick Jimmer Fredette provided the perfect jumping off point for the Sacramento Bee to look at how young Latter-day Saints are waiting longer to get married.

"Last weekend, Sacramento King draft pick and former Brigham Young University basketball star Jimmer Fredette announced his engagement via Twitter. At 22, he is following the traditional path for Mormons and is marrying young," reporter Jennifer Garza wrote. "Church leaders want other Mormon men to follow his lead and not that of the nation as a whole. Last week the U.S. Census Bureau released figures indicating marriage is at an all-time low and people are waiting longer to tie the knot."

The story refers to LDS Church President Thomas S. Monson's April 2011 General Conference address in which he told priesthood holders of marriageable age that "there is a point at which it's time to think seriously about marriage and to seek a companion with whom you want to spend eternity," adding that "if you choose wisely and are committed to the success of your marriage, there is nothing in this life which will bring you greater happiness."

Elder Richard G. Scott of the Quorum of the Twelve apostles would also be among the "church leaders who are reminding men of their religious obligations" referred to in the news article as a result of his counsel during the most recent General Conference: "If you are a young man of appropriate age and are not married, don't waste time in idle pursuits. Get on with life and focus on getting married. Don't just coast through this period of life."

Garza spoke to several members of a Sacramento-area LDS singles ward, who talked about the advantages of attending a ward where they can serve in the church, make friends and meet and date people with similar beliefs.

"I don't think I've put (off marriage), I just haven't found the right person," said one young man who is about to begin graduate school. "Marriage is something I'm aware of, but I'm not ready."

Similarly, a young woman says that she and her girlfriends "want to marry but she has faith that it will happen at the right time. 'God is in charge,'" she said.

Popular Comments

"LDS Church wants young men to be like Jimmer?" What, like choose not
to serve a mission? Okay. I'm not trying to judge his circumstances, but
wouldn't the church want young men to serve missions, then get married?

11:48 a.m. Aug. 30, 2011

Top comment

Civil

Salt Lake City, UT

"if you choose wisely and are committed to the success of your marriage,
there is nothing in this life which will bring you greater happiness."

Amen to that.

11:29 a.m. Aug. 30, 2011

Top comment

Ted H.

Midvale, UT

To Ute Trolls who undoubtedly were going to throw out the mission thing:

1) The First Presidency didn't say "Be like Jimmer." The
Sacramento Bee said Jimmer is a good example for Mormons.

Joseph Walker began his professional writing career in 1980 as a staff writer for the Deseret News in Salt Lake City, eventually becoming the newspaper's television and live theater critic. He left professional journalism more ..